South Side Hit Men

Teams / leagues have ebbs and flows throughout time. My preferred format won't happen, even if MLB lost its anti-trust exemption, but the best format in terms of incentive to field competitive teams is the relegation / promotion process used by by most domestic leagues around the globe. If ownership chose not to compete at their current level, the entire franchise is sent down to the "minors". There would be few if any "tanking teams". This would allow new ownership groups to purchase teams and if they invest enough, they could be promoted over time to the major leagues. You wouldn't be forced to give the current cartel a billion dollars to enter their Congressional protected monopoly. Fans would actually be offered what they are paying for at their respective league level. All teams would be unaffiliated, ball clubs would have expanded rosters / current game day rosters similar to how Schaumburg and the AZ Fall League is held, which is where MLB is headed anyway. No drafts, all players are free agents. Also, no garbage playoff schemes. Round Robin regular season schedules across the entire league, playoffs limited to first place teams. The bottom 2 teams are relegated, top 2 teams promoted, throughout the various levels. Levels (Each league has a separate round robin schedule, no inter league beyond a Championship/World Series between the round robin winners, and a possible All Star Game): Top Tier - Bottom team in each league relegated, PCL and IL Champions Promoted. American League & National League Pacific Coast League & International League Second Tier - Top Teams in each of the four leagues play in a playoff (semi-final winners also promoted); last place teams do the same (the losing two are relegated). Eastern; Southern; Texas & California League Carolina; Mid-Atlantic; Midwest & Nortwest Florida State; South Atlantic; Arizona & Gulf Coast International Leagues like the Mexican and Dominican Leagues can sell their prospects to the highest bidder, at any level.

Cooper was given Lucas Giolito. Lucas had to literally leave the organization, go to his High School coach, and discard everything Cooper and the team tried to implement for naught. Always Be Coaching The leads aren't weak, you're weak.

1994-1995, when Bud Selig and friends literally killed baseball and attempted to play scabs, and allowed teams unable to beat out four teams as a wild card is when the credibility of baseball took a major hit. I lost interest in postseason baseball at that time. There have been several wild card champions / weak division champions since, including TLDR's you referenced. The 7-8 team division format / four postseason teams would mirror the equivalent ratio through 1968. A permanent 14-16 + team playoff expansion would render the regular season a lengthy exhibition season similar to the other sports. Baseball was unique in maintaining the integrity of the regular season until 1994. Back in the good old days, even as far back as a few years ago, nearly all teams were trying to field a quality team, now fans are down to a minority of teams. All five teams won the AL East within the past seven years. In fact, 13 of the 15 American League teams, the absolutely pathetic White Sox and Seattle Mariners the exceptions, have won their respective division in the past seven years. The answer is not to cheapen the process, the answer is to actually attempt to win baseball games.

I follow the regular season, primarily my rotisserie teams and the White Sox, but in terms of the playoffs I typically don’t watch or follow closely. I didn’t care last year after the Sox were out. If they went to sixteen teams permanent I wouldn’t care, or even bother to get Sox playoff tickets. It was special to go to all the games in 1983 and 2005, because the team earned a valid birth. Stepping up to buy tickets for a 82-80 “postseason team”, who gives a shit if they win some random crapshoot. Four (four eight team divisions post expansion) or six (Division champs #2 vs. #3 best if three) teams are the ideal playoff formats, in terms of rewarding actual 154/162 season. If a team is not good enough to win a four or five team division over six months, than you shouldn’t be eligible to be a “World Champion” on the basis of a 3-4 week tournament. Period.

I would be really interested in reading the story referenced, couldn’t find it. Beyond MLB ownership requirements and restrictions, it would be very unique agreement to allow the managing partner to do “anything he wanted” in terms of key partnership decisions, such as issuance of stock or debt, or departing from a board approved annual budget. Jerry can wake up one day and say, “I’m going to hire my BFF Tony” to a current position in the organization. But it would be a rare partnership agreement to allow Jerry to run a large operating loss without prior board approval. Jerry started out with 4% of shares, and I don’t believe his current % of ownership is publicly known. Even if Jerry wanted one more title “for the road”, I would suspect he could not unilaterally execute billions of dollars in player contracts (sign / acquire Trout, Machado, Harper, Tatis Jr., Freeman, Arenado, Cole, De Grom, Darvish, Kershaw, Yelich, Realmuto and more) even if he personally had the money or access to the money to do so and owned a majority of team shares.

Yes, **** these ****** ************* *********** ***** ** **** ******* ********. **** Rob, Jerry, and the other 29 ************ **** ** **** ***** ******** who would not only **** ***** ******, but would also send her ***, The proposal, however, would not guarantee full pay if the season was shorter than 154 games, while still giving Commissioner Rob Manfred authority to suspend the season for health concerns, according to two additional people with direct knowledge of the proposal. The union has steadfastly rejected the expanded postseason proposal in talks this winter, believing it would disincentivize teams’ willingness to spend if it would be easier to qualify for the playoffs.

Why settle for a view of the Chicago skyline and lake, when you can have an unobstructed view of the Robert Taylor homes. Reinsdorf and Wirtz, once a slumlord, always a slumlord.

Liked several comments / the discussion. I’m hoping pitch framing becomes irrelevant as early as the new CBA in 2022, after an electronic automated strike zone is approved and implemented, even if it hurts the Sox (paying Grandal in part for pitch framing through 2023).

Deleted original post. My post was before learning his 2021 option is deferred to 2022, so he remains in St. Louis a minimum 2 seasons.

The key for players to consider approving this proposed amendment to the current CBA agreement would be whether “full pay” is guaranteed (including any increased playoff compensation), even if regular season and or playoff games are cancelled / cannot be held or completed due to COVID or other unforeseen reasons. Otherwise, the players can just affirm to honor the current existing agreement, which calls for full pay of 162 games and the existing playoff format. The owners cannot deviate from the current agreement without either obtaining player approval and or violating the collective bargaining agreement and risk possible sanctions or financial penalties if successfully challenged in court. The players formally agreed last year to give MLB authorization to adjust the schedule as the commissioner saw fit, much to their (and our) detriment. Hopefully they learned from their mistake of trusting ownership to do the right thing.

Bottom line is it depends and would never officially be disclosed to the public for operational and competitive reasons. Typically a Board of Directors, of which Jerry is Chairman of the White Sox’ which also consists of other minority owners, formally approve an annual operating budget and/or maximum authorization of expenses per annum. There are also likely restrictions on a club accessing debt or capital without prior board approval. So while Jerry has authority to approve the day to day operations of the club as CEO, and may have billions of dollars to his name, he can’t give Kenny/Hahn a blanket approval and sign/trade for Bauer, Springer, Cole, Darvish, Arenado and others resulting in say a $500M payroll in 2021, unless that amount was approved by the board prior to executing the contract. Jerry could go back to the board for formal approval of an increase. The club would never give precise details publicly, but at times someone will leak an approximate budget amount to say someone whose name rhymes with Slob Martingale. Hope that helps with your question.

There may also be additional players who want to train / attend as well, but cannot due to MLB’s facility access protocols. Has there been a report of an agreement between MLB and the Players Association regarding COVID training protocols? Otherwise, these players are among the exceptions to restrictions issued by MLB on January 5th. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2021/01/05/mlb-threatens-discipline-for-teams-violating-facility-access-protocols/4142122001/ MLB informed clubs in their memo sent Monday that only three categories of players may access their facilities before the start of spring training: Players who have a permanent residence proximate to their facilities. Players who require entry to the facility to receive medical care. Players who have been approved to attend a club-organized mini-camp under the terms of the Basic Agreement

All you all gonna hate on Tim Anderson’s wife’s tweets as well, or only if Tim drops below .320 or Tony runs him out of town for hitting a grand slam without permission, or some other contrived Old School Boomer transgression? https://mobile.twitter.com/speakBRIAspeak/status/1311816426433388544

Well, that is the year I started following team as well. Most friends and neighbors were Cub fans, growing up on the NW Side (family started out on West Side when immigrating here a hundred years ago), but family were White Sox (and Football Cardinals) fans. Really loved the White Sox uniforms in 1975, also loved the 1977 team and games WSNS. In terms of the bWAR numbers, he was always rated as a below average 1B by the numbers, and I'm not really sure why. He won the Gold Glove that year, and while sometimes the "eye ball test" does not give a full picture, looking at the range and other metrics in the fielding section, I'm don't understand the -0.8 dWAR number either. Would be interesting if the same information available now was available for 1977, and whether his dWAR would improve as a result. A -0.3 bWAR is basically replacement level average. While Batting Average, Home Runs and Runs Batted In were the primary stats used to evaluate a first baseman back then, I do understand the low bWAR rating in this instance, as a .700 OPS (On Base + Slugging) is a poor number, especially for a first baseman. It was the second lowest on the team (Orta's .751 the next lowest, Bannister was the lowest at .672). The league average OPS across all AL players was .735 that year, so being below league average as a 1B really indicates a poor hitting season. He had a huge season two years later with the short RF porch in Yankee Stadium, bumping his OBP to .960. the bWAR was likely adjusted downward a bit, accounting for the ballpark difference (Comiskey much harder than Yankee Stadium for LHBs).

Setting aside pitcher development, I’m just grateful Cooper won’t be handing out COVID this season.

I don’t think he needs to work miracles. If he can turn around 1 or 2 pitchers over the next two seasons, it’s a huge upgrade over Cooper whose time passed years ago. The one recent success story abandoned everything Cooper taught. Perhaps Bob was correct. Rodon could work in the bullpen with a proper transition development plan in Spring Training. Regardless of whether it does or not, Crochet must be developed as a starter, not as a toy for LaRussa’s tenure until the starting pitching possibility comes and goes.

I agree, if possible. I agree, Top 5 catchers are not easy to find or develop. I thought about Narvaez, and he may bounce back offensively, but he was a rule five pick from TB, and he is really known for his bat. I’m not expecting consistent team development of elite level catchers (Mauer / Posey), but rather a development program emphasizing catcher defensive/game calling at the minor league level, by catchers able to hit at minimum an acceptable .670-.700 OPS. Not looking at this from where the Sox stand now, but over the long term. An example is a player like Roberto Perez who is a huge asset behind the plate who also has a reasonable contract, and is acceptable hitter (.666 OPS). It’s easier and cheaper obtaining higher offensive production at the other positions. Perhaps developing an ML capable average catcher like Olivo or Flowers once per decade is a reasonable expectation, but I feel this is an area the Sox can improve on in the development phase and pay huge dividends at the ML level. I was trying to find articles or discussions regarding White Sox’ catcher development, and or have a discussion here on whether this could be a great area for the White Sox can hire a great coach / teacher / guru dedicated to developing catchers throughout the system.

Ken appears sober and correct in his assessment of Rodon's likely role. I don't think Carlos would have rushed for a $3M deal today, without at least a path to starting.

This shouldn't be their final move, but I certainly support the signing. There is plenty of time for him to work with Katz, and either keep him as starter depth, or transition him properly to a bullpen role. Welcome back Carlos and Ashley.

The White Sox have generally had solid catching (defense and offense) throughout the years, but have gone outside of the organization since Fisk was signed (A J, Grandal other examples). Brian Downing and Ron Karkovice were the best internal options during my near half century of fandom, Olivo and Flowers next level but both were traded and have less than a career 10 bWAR. Downing was traded young as well. Zack Collins and Yermin Mercedes are the two current catching prospects, but there is general consensus they aren't or will not be serviceable behind the plate, even as a solid back up option. Catching takes the longest development time and effort of position players. I wasn't able to find much regarding catching specific development. Is there anyone who can point me to articles / sources regarding Sox staff dedicated to catching development, and/or is this an area the Sox can hire a solid staff hire to help develop / scout catchers? Dedicating close to 20% of salary to catching is not a sustainable model with a mid-range payroll. Thanks in advance.

It's worth a shot if Katz can work with him and they have a legitimate plan they can implement before the season (continue as a starter or transition into a bullpen role). It was asinine to call up an injured lifelong starter and throw him into a bullpen role with a few games left in the season. Ashley had more sense than the FO, Ricky took the fall.

Here you go, a few hours earlier. Was one of the few positive people here regarding Ricky Renteria and the White Sox growth and performance under him since I joined at the end of the season. Celebrated the Katz, Cairo and Kasper signings this offseason. Also like the Lynn and Hendricks acquisitions, just concerned about half of payroll locked up with older players if they extend Lynn.

Oh really? You apparently you also have an issue with dishonesty, not to mention hatred. Unlike you, I can celebrate the good, and criticize the bad, including dishonesty, without hating the organization or personnel. Physician, heal thyself.

There is nothing to "wonder". He is the chief officer (President) over daily affairs, and also the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Jerry is compensated for his position as chief officer above and beyond net profits for his pro-rata ownership received each year. Jerry has methodically increased his ownership from 4% of the original purchase ($1M of $19M) to the person with the highest percentage of Chicago White Sox shares from other minority shareholders. This information is widely available via reporting over the decades. What isn't publicly known is his exact current percentage of ownership. I wouldn't assume he owns a majority of shares. He was elected managing partner when he put the bid together and only owned 4% in 1981. MLB approved him and his bid. Like most limited partnership agreements, the managing partner has a broad authority over the affairs of the club. Besides possible restrictions regarding debt / capital, or significant departures from the board approved annual budget, Jerryhas autonomy over the organization. People assume Kenny is next in charge but he is not, he is oversees baseball operations. Unlike the Cubs structure (Crane Kenny and Jed Hoyer are dual Presidents), Howard Pizer is the Senior Executive Vice President, Kenny Williams is Executive Vice President, Rick Hahn Senior Vice President & General Manager is third. When Jerry Reinsdorf denied Kenny the opportunity to interview for the President & CEO Position in Toronto, he denied Kenny the chance at a promotion.

This, and the dishonesty. Don't blow tens of millions each season during tanking years on garbage players or friends and family of Machado, and tell us your tapped out at the 2011 payroll rate. Don't jump the gun each free agent season in a contraction/collusion market and acquire garbage like Parrot, Eaton, Mazara. Don't tell us you are conducting legitimate managerial search and bring in Tony La Russa a decade out of retirement in an orange jump suit because nobody else will hire him. Don't brag about multi-championship windows when a mid level payroll "taps you out". Don't have your ticket reps tell your fans they expect a full schedule with fans in the seats, when owners are once again working to lock out players indefinitely, and handing bullshit letters to government hacks in Arizona to spew propganda on your behalf. Don't leak any news to Bob Fucking Nightengale, grow a pair and face the media and fans.